NEW ROCHELLE – These guys are built different.
Literally.
The walk down the hillside stairs on the first day of practice Monday at Iona Prep was a parade of match-up issues. Dethroning the reigning Catholic High School Football League AAA champion will require serious muscle, skill and grit.
And players from Mamadee Sangaray to Josh Simmons to Dilen Mulaj to Austin Farrell do more than fill out a uniform.
There is next-level athleticism up and down this roster.
Julian Guzman and Crew Davis were offensive cornerstones for the Gaels, who’s captured three CHSFL titles in the last four seasons. Jaydin Jackson is coming into camp as QB1. It remains to be seen where a deep cast of running backs and wide receivers will fall on the depth chart.
There are nine starters coming back on defense, which has to inspire confidence on both sides of the ball.
“There is competition for every single position in our program,” Iona Prep coach Joe Spagnolo said. “No one is handed anything. Mamadee is going to start. Dilen is going to start. Austin is going to start. For the most part, though, everyone is competing for a job. Jaydin played varsity last year as a sophomore so he definitely has a head start in the race but Quentin Galvin led our JV to an undefeated season. We’re always building the room. Jaydin is No. 1 on the rep chart and Q is No. 2 and we’ll go from there.”
Names to know
Mamadee Sangaray, Sr., S/WR; Josh Simmons, Sr., DE/TE; Austin Farrell, Sr., DL; Dashawn Harley, Sr., O/DL; Dilen Mulaj, Jr., OL; Brady Morison, Sr., DL; Willie Reeves, Sr., OLB/RB; Lamar Lewis, Sr., DB/WR; Jaydin Jackson, Jr., QB; Ben Rivera, So., LB/TE; Eric Camacho, Sr., LB/FB; Zander Poole, Sr., DB/RB; Bryce Blot, Jr. OL; Chase Reeves, Jr., RB; Kayden Cade-Lewis, Sr., OL; D.J. Smith, Sr., DB; Aidan Cassidy, Sr., WR; Trey Newton, Jr., WR; Tyrone Mushatt, Jr., WR; Niko Diamandis, Sr., K.
Schedule
Sept. 3 vs. CBA-Syracuse at JMA Wireless Dome
Sept. 12 vs. Paramus Catholic
Sept. 19 at St. Joseph by the Sea
Sept. 25 vs. Monsignor Farrell
Oct. 3 vs. St. Anthony’s
Oct. 9 at Cardinal Hayes
Oct. 16 vs. Fordham Prep
Oct. 23 vs. Chaminade
Oct. 31 at Stepinac
Takeaways
Yes, the offensive playbook has undergone some alterations to fit the incoming personnel. Jackson got a few snaps last season and he’s vapor trail quick. The junior covered 100 meters in a personal best 10.89 seconds at Eastern States last spring. Willie and Chase Reeves are part of a contingent working to earn reps at running back.
Some of the gaps in the varsity and junior varsity lineups could be filled by a dozen or so transfers, which is a product of winning.
The schedule includes two crossovers that are tailor-made for getting the Gaels up to speed ahead of their CHSFL slate. CBA-Syracuse, which has won three straight NYSPHSAA Class AA championships, is the opener Sept. 3 at the JMA Dome. Paramus (New Jersey) Catholic is next and visits Mara Field Sept. 12.
Talking points
“We’re definitely excited to play, but we have to get better before the season,” Harley said. “It starts in the preseason. We’re getting to know everybody, the new faces. I don’t think there is going to be a lack of offense, like it’s going to be the same thing as last year. We’re going to terrorize defenses.”
“Julian was on varsity three-plus years,” Spagnolo said. “The offense was built around his skillset and his ability to read defenses. This year we’ll be a little different and it’s not due to a lack of talent. Jaydin is 6-2 and 175 pounds and he’s the fastest junior in New York.”
“When you think about Iona Prep, we think of physical football,” Sangaray said. “I think our size brings a lot of attention. We’ve got big guys who come to play. … We’re expecting this defense to be nothing short of dominant. That’s it. We’re looking to shut teams out, to force three-and-outs. We’re going to be fast and physical. We’re going to be relentless.”
Mike Dougherty covers high school football for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Iona Prep opens camp, takes first step toward CHSFL three-peat
Reporting by Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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By Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
